June 15, 2002	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 3, 1423

KARACHI, June 14: Sindh Governor, Mohammedmian Soomro, has condemned the bomb attack on the US Consulate on Abdullah Haroon Road and said that the government has taken all possible measures to prevent such occurrences.

“Whoever has a hand in the incident is an enemy of the people and the country,” he pointed out and appealed to the people to cooperate with the government in implementing the precautionary measures being taken.

The governor, who paid a visit to the site where he was briefed by authorities, was talking to a group of newsmen after visiting the injured at Jinnah Hospital. Chief Secretary, Muhammad Javed Ashraf Hussain; IG Police, Syed Kamal Shah and City Police Chief, Asad Jehangir, were also present.

At the hospital, Mr Soomro assured the family members of those injured of the best possible treatment and directed the hospital administration for the same. He also wished them early recovery.

Replying to questions, the governor said that different teams had been formed to investigate the incident.

He did not agree with a questioner about the failure of security agencies, and said that the police and intelligence network had prevented many such incidents which, if not checked, would have caused unimaginable loss of life and property. The agencies had unearthed and busted different groups and recovered material from their possession which they wanted to use for sabotage.

However, the police and agencies had been asked to further improve their performance, utilize new techniques and modern methods to curb such activities effectively.

“There can be no compensation for loss of life. However, we would see to it that the affected families are compensated as per rules,” Mr Soomro added.

In reply to a question, the chief secretary said that it was still too early to say who was involved in the bomb attack.